Quote Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl View Post
This is a bad idea.
You NEVER want the thermostat probe to be in a position to be altered.
Everyone tried to over complicate this and I cannot figure out why...............................
Heat pat(UTH) covered in aluminum tape (sticky side to sticky side), probe between pad and bottom of enclosure. Use foil tape on edges to secure pad to bottom of enclosure. Set temperature on thermostat to 90 (this is my starting point) and after an hour or so of run time check the inside temperature with a no contact gun. Adjust till you get the temp you are shooting for. Make note of your actual settings. FYI I have a couple racks running 102 degrees to have a 93 degree inside the tub temp.

Now back to why a probe inside the enclosure is almost as bad as not using a thermostat at all........
Have you ever had your snake tip, dump or over flow the water bowl?
Does your snake pee and poop in their enclosure?
If none these have never happened and you want to gamble that they never will then your probe inside the tank is safe.

I however have seen and know that any of these fluids can alter the probes reading and cause it to read lower than actual temps. This will cause the thermostat to fire up and more than likely run the mat hotter than you planned until the probe is at the set temperature it thinks it should be at.
Wiring and cables inside an enclosure can also add to other potential problems. Why give the opportunity to happen?
Not only this but I like to be able to clean my tubs and tanks.
Good point, and the reason why the probe should be encased and insulated with hot glue, it's in contact with the glass, but won't be in contact with fluids spilled right over it. I've had good results with a probe between flexwatt and glass or a tub, and it's thin enough that you could get a good read on the back of it. The zoo med pads are a little more problematic, they heat uneven anyway, bubbles cause cool spots, and the backing is thick and insulates the temp by a few degrees.